downsmail.co.uk


Man jailed for string of


shop thes A31-YEAR-OLD Maidstoneman was sent to prison for a total of 120 days after admitting 14 counts of stealing meat and other goods costing nearly £800 from several shops in the town. Mid Kent magistrates heard


that PhillipWeeks, ofWestmor- land Close, Shepway stole meat worth £6 from a shop inWilling- ton Street, Maidstone on Febru- ary 15, followed by meat valued at £30 on February 16, £100 on February 17, £30 on February 20, £45 on February 21, £50 on March 1 and meat and butterworth £79 on March 7, all from a shop in Egremont Road, Bearsted. On February 10, he stole meat


and toiletries worth £50 and the same day stolewashingupliquid valued at £6. On February 13, he stole washing powder worth £67.29 and on March 12, he stole detergent worth £85.20, all from a store in Northumberland Road, Shepway. On March 3, Weeks took fragrances worth £78.98 from a shop in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, and stole goods val- ued at £227 during the next two days from the same shop.


Maintaining Soft Landscapes along Kent’s roads


News Tribute to hanged man


ANEWplaque marking the grave of a man wrongly hanged for set- ting light to a hayrick in the area in the 19th century has been un- veiled at Bearsted church. The plaque, marking the grave of


John Dyke, was dedicated at a service by Rev John Corbyn at the Holy Cross – John Dyke’s parish church. John Dyke was executed on Pe- nenden Heath on Christmas Eve in 1830, after being found guilty of starting a fire at Otteridge Farm in Bearsted. He denied being in-


MAIDSTONE has welcomed its first pop-up shop, at The Mall. The town’smayor, Cllr Clive English, opened the three-in-one retail outlet (formerly Thorntons) near The Mall’s main entrance. The pop-up shop comprises retail-


ers Just Dipity, the Plain Clothing Company and Glamair Occasions, which had been operating online. The accessories, clothing, and bal-


loon businesses were among 16 re- tailers who applied for the vacant unit. They won their three-week stay in the first round of The Mall’s Retail Factor competition.


volved but admitted supporting the agricultural riots of the time. It later transpired that he was inno- cent of the crime. The slate plaque, which replaces


a corroding stone thatwas starting to split,was bought with £500 from Bearsted and District Local History Society, as part of its 75th anniver- sary celebrations. Other contribu- tions, including an anonymous donation, made up the difference. The society’s Roger Vidler said: “Replacing the plaque was one of a number of suggestions put for-


ward to help us mark the society’s anniversary.” The slate plaque should last


longer and was made by stonema- son and former councillor Gordon Newton. Mr Vidler said: “About 180 years


after the event, no one can be ab- solutely certain about the pattern of events surrounding this inci- dent. But, certainly, things were very different to what they are now in criminal trials and the poor man deserves to be remembered for the price he ultimately paid.”


Pop-up shop gives new businesses a boost


Lorraine Wilding, of Just Dipity,


Naadir Akhtar, from the Plain Cloth- ing Company and Yanti Clark, from Glamair Occasions, now compete for a £1,000 prize in the finals of a na-


tional competition run at The Mall’s six locations across the country. Maidstone marketing manager


Suzie Brindle said: “The shop is great platform for those starting in retail.”


What can you do to help:


kent.gov.uk/softlandscapes Maidstone East June 2014 35


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